IN YOUR OPINION

Letters to the Editor for May 2, 2013

Published: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 9:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 9:29 p.m.

Little Johnnie's lesson

Hey, lighten up, you paddle-hating parents of “my little Johnnie.” Since disciplinary functions have disappeared from the home scene, how is Johnnie going to know when he is acting up in school? You'd better thank those educators instead of maligning them.

Perhaps my early childhood experiences might help emphasize the need for discipline training. As a third-grader in grammar school in 1930, my best buddy, Howard, and I became adept in the art of firing spit-wads at each other. We finally attracted the attention of the female teacher, who grabbed both of us by the ears and marched us up to the principal's office. Naturally, we were screaming all the way there.

The principal had been known to have a special paddle with which he was adept at using on wayward boys' bottoms, and after the forceful lecture handed to us he decided to use this paddle on the appropriate location on both of us. Now this paddle was rather special because even with a very slight tap on the bottom-side, this paddle would sound like a shotgun going off and would blend in with the screams of the miscreant — in this case, me.

Actually the tap itself was just barely felt, but the noise it created caught one's attention very fast. The severity of the crime in class served to establish the number of taps on the hind end and, in this case, we warranted a three-tap visit.

Humiliation was achieved, and I must confess that the lessons learned about self-discipline in that small school in northwestern Oregon has served me well for over 91 years.

Mama, a bit of noise created on your little Johnnie's rear end is going to be amply rewarded in future years.

Elvere “Tommy” Thompson

Dunnellon

River first, river last

I read with sadness the article regarding the water rights battle in Dunnellon. It appears Dunnellon has itself between a rock and a hard place, and I hope the answer comes only after long, vigorous, soul-searching discussions from ALL who reside in our city.

My husband and I grew up in Ocala and have fond memories of tubing and swimming down the Rainbow with its crystal clear water, white sandy bottom, abundant wildlife, and old Florida cypress trees. After 35 years, we have returned to Marion County and decided to move to Dunnellon, on the Rainbow River. We did not move to Dunnellon for the restaurants, shops or nightlife. We moved here for one reason — the river.

And yes, the river is already in trouble. Anyone who has been to the Rainbow can readily see she is not the pristine beauty she once was. Yet, how can one rationalize that allowing the reversal of the ordinance passed in 2008 is going to make the river and her banks healthier and more beautiful for the people who visit her. I'd like to think they come here not to ride down the river to look at her houses but to escape for an afternoon and pretend to be back in the Florida of old, that we remember as children.

I read in an editorial that we don't protect what we don't value. I hope Dunnellon will take a long, hard look at what they truly value and how their decisions could affect the generations to come — or not come — to their city.

Dawn Pierce

Dunnellon

Voter input

Oh, wait! My sides hurt from laughing!

The front page of the Sunday Star-Banner had an article concerning our City Council. The council is going to make changes to the city charter.

We're OK so far, right?

Here's the funny part. It states that “some of the changes being considered by the City Council will wind up on the Oct. 15 ballot giving city voters the final word.”

Is this vote going to be honored the same as the vote by 61 percent of the votes as part of the last ballot questions?

Just asking.

F. Midge Lee

Ocala

Sequester, sequester, OMG!

If the situation was not so serious, it would be humorous. The president, the administration and the various czars continue to use the sequester as a political tool.

First, as it was presented at its onset, the sequester was not to reduce the current spending commitment, but rather reduce projected future spending. If this was the case, then why all the high-profile, media-grabbing cuts. These would include threatening the White House Easter celebrations, eliminating educational financial aid to our veterans, furloughing air traffic controllers, closing some regional airports, grounding the Blue Angles and the Thunderbirds as well as other military jets (this has caused many air shows to cancel, thus costing both jobs and money for local economies) and the list goes on and on. All of these moves seem to be implemented to bring the most media coverage and inflict the most pain on the American public.

Second, if you listen to the media and the administration, it is all the Republicans' fault. Note: I'm an independent. Yet, both the president and the Democrats were deeply involved in its inception. The Democrats controlled the Senate and they passed this legislation. As usual, it is someone else's fault.

The American public again suffers while the president and his administration help create a situation and then disavow it. They then blame the Republicans and, like most politicians, are blessed with a strong case of selective memory.

<p><b>Little Johnnie's lesson</b></p><p>Hey, lighten up, you paddle-hating parents of “my little Johnnie.” Since disciplinary functions have disappeared from the home scene, how is Johnnie going to know when he is acting up in school? You'd better thank those educators instead of maligning them.</p><p>Perhaps my early childhood experiences might help emphasize the need for discipline training. As a third-grader in grammar school in 1930, my best buddy, Howard, and I became adept in the art of firing spit-wads at each other. We finally attracted the attention of the female teacher, who grabbed both of us by the ears and marched us up to the principal's office. Naturally, we were screaming all the way there.</p><p>The principal had been known to have a special paddle with which he was adept at using on wayward boys' bottoms, and after the forceful lecture handed to us he decided to use this paddle on the appropriate location on both of us. Now this paddle was rather special because even with a very slight tap on the bottom-side, this paddle would sound like a shotgun going off and would blend in with the screams of the miscreant — in this case, me.</p><p>Actually the tap itself was just barely felt, but the noise it created caught one's attention very fast. The severity of the crime in class served to establish the number of taps on the hind end and, in this case, we warranted a three-tap visit.</p><p>Humiliation was achieved, and I must confess that the lessons learned about self-discipline in that small school in northwestern Oregon has served me well for over 91 years.</p><p>Mama, a bit of noise created on your little Johnnie's rear end is going to be amply rewarded in future years.</p><p><i>Elvere “Tommy” Thompson</p><p>Dunnellon</i></p><p> </p><p><b>River first, river last</b></p><p>I read with sadness the article regarding the water rights battle in Dunnellon. It appears Dunnellon has itself between a rock and a hard place, and I hope the answer comes only after long, vigorous, soul-searching discussions from ALL who reside in our city.</p><p>My husband and I grew up in Ocala and have fond memories of tubing and swimming down the Rainbow with its crystal clear water, white sandy bottom, abundant wildlife, and old Florida cypress trees. After 35 years, we have returned to Marion County and decided to move to Dunnellon, on the Rainbow River. We did not move to Dunnellon for the restaurants, shops or nightlife. We moved here for one reason — the river.</p><p>And yes, the river is already in trouble. Anyone who has been to the Rainbow can readily see she is not the pristine beauty she once was. Yet, how can one rationalize that allowing the reversal of the ordinance passed in 2008 is going to make the river and her banks healthier and more beautiful for the people who visit her. I'd like to think they come here not to ride down the river to look at her houses but to escape for an afternoon and pretend to be back in the Florida of old, that we remember as children.</p><p>I read in an editorial that we don't protect what we don't value. I hope Dunnellon will take a long, hard look at what they truly value and how their decisions could affect the generations to come — or not come — to their city.</p><p><i>Dawn Pierce</p><p>Dunnellon</i></p><p> </p><p><b>Voter input</b></p><p>Oh, wait! My sides hurt from laughing!</p><p>The front page of the Sunday Star-Banner had an article concerning our City Council. The council is going to make changes to the city charter.</p><p>We're OK so far, right?</p><p>Here's the funny part. It states that “some of the changes being considered by the City Council will wind up on the Oct. 15 ballot giving city voters the final word.”</p><p>Is this vote going to be honored the same as the vote by 61 percent of the votes as part of the last ballot questions?</p><p>Just asking.</p><p><i>F. Midge Lee</p><p>Ocala</i></p><p> </p><p><b>Sequester, sequester, OMG!</b></p><p>If the situation was not so serious, it would be humorous. The president, the administration and the various czars continue to use the sequester as a political tool.</p><p>First, as it was presented at its onset, the sequester was not to reduce the current spending commitment, but rather reduce projected future spending. If this was the case, then why all the high-profile, media-grabbing cuts. These would include threatening the White House Easter celebrations, eliminating educational financial aid to our veterans, furloughing air traffic controllers, closing some regional airports, grounding the Blue Angles and the Thunderbirds as well as other military jets (this has caused many air shows to cancel, thus costing both jobs and money for local economies) and the list goes on and on. All of these moves seem to be implemented to bring the most media coverage and inflict the most pain on the American public.</p><p>Second, if you listen to the media and the administration, it is all the Republicans' fault. Note: I'm an independent. Yet, both the president and the Democrats were deeply involved in its inception. The Democrats controlled the Senate and they passed this legislation. As usual, it is someone else's fault.</p><p>The American public again suffers while the president and his administration help create a situation and then disavow it. They then blame the Republicans and, like most politicians, are blessed with a strong case of selective memory.</p><p>All in all, it is quite shameful.</p><p><i>Gene Addington</p><p>Ocala</i></p>